LTBA NEWS

SIR GENGHIS IN CHARGE TO WIN THE OWNER’S DAY CUP

OPELOUSAS, LA- Sir Genghis went right to the lead and never looked back to score a victory in the $60,000 Owner’s Day Cup on Saturday night at Evangeline Downs. The win was the second stakes score of the season for the gelding, who had previously won the $60,000 Need For Speed at Evangeline Downs in June. There is an odd twist to both stakes wins for Sir Genghis this season in that both races were taken off the turf.

Sir Genghis, who was sent off as the 6-5 betting favorite, was sent to the front by jockey Kerwin Clark right out of the gate and set solid early fractions of 24.09 seconds for the quarter-mile and 48.38 seconds for the half-mile. He received token early pressure from longshot Mr. Shad and withstood a late charge from Future Express, who ranged up on the outside on the far turn. Sir Genghis had plenty left in the tank to register a four-length victory in a final time of 1:46.14 for the 1 1/16 miles over the fast main track.

Sir Genghis paid $4.60 to win, $3.20 to place and $2.80 to show. Future Express finished second and returned $10.40 to place and $5.80 to show. Four Leaf Chief came home third and paid $3.60 to show.

Sir Genghis is a 5-year-old gelding bred in Louisiana by Randel Stutes. He is owned by Gillian and Kirk Harris and the trainer is Chad Pitzer. He was sired by Tale of the Cat and is out of the Unbridled’s Song mare, Staria. The win is the eighth in Sir Genghis’ 26-race career. The $36,000 first-place purse increases his lifetime earnings to $271,512.